Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-09-22

new Nun "IID' to Denver, and
although his congregation and thousands
outside Of 1t held to him with all their
strength, he decided, for climatic reasons,
to accept the call, and has been in Den
yer four years, where he Is as much loved
as he was In indianapolis and elsewhere
He is nearly so now, but Is strong and
full of force A grave looking man, and
with faculty for serious thinking, he
has strong sense OF the humorous and il
witty to degree. His wit, however, Is
not bubbling and mirthful, as was Beech
er's. 1t Is incisive and droll. 1t filters
through his conversations and his sermons
In much the same style that Mark Twain's
Jokes come forth-slow, drawing and I'M
expected In truth, Mr.. Reed looks q
little like Mark Twain, and his method of
delivery is much the same. 1t Is said
with due sense of the difference in theme
that marks these two. He carries with
him no pulpit atmosphere. Even In the
pulpit he assumes no air Of the preacher
tilted few steps above his hearers. He
is always one of them. He goes down to
the edge of the platform on which the
pulpit Is built and talks to them from the
same ground they are on as nearly as he
can.
There is a story about Reed which H.
Illustrates his unlikeness to the regulation
clergyman, and it is true, too. Like MINI
rod, he is mighty hunter before the
Lord; also, famous for inveigling fish into
nets and on hooks. When he takes va
cation he goes off into the mountains or
away up to where Canadian trout streams
are plenty and camps out with few
chums or with strangers whose trail he
strikes. On one of these occasions he met
4 particularly CHEEKY party which con-
tanned Joe Murphy, the actor. Mr. Reed
soon became one Of them, and was known
to them only as man named Reed, who
proved to be most companionable per-
son, phenomenally lucky rs to fish. Sun
day came and the party got ready as
usual to go out for fishes and game-all
but Reed. He excused himself, saying
that he would rest that day. The others
rhatfed him rs lazy and cracked up the
weather MS too fine to be neglected No,
Reed said he believed he would rather
loaf around that day. and so they went
without him. When they returned Mt
night the landlord said to one of them:
That fellow Reed is queer one
Would you believe it, he actually went
down to the little church in the village
and attended service. Some OF my fam
lily saw him there"
Well, that was queer, they thought.
In fact a man who liked to fish as we'll as
he did and who deliberately stayed at
home and went to church on such day as
that was beyond their fathoming
The next winter Joe Murphy was play
ing in Indianapolis. He said to the clerk
of his hotel one day: by the way, u
friend of mine lives here A good fellow,
named Reed, whom met up at Nipegon
last summer. must send him note. l
would like to see him."
"Do you mean Rev. Myron Reeds'
asked the clerk
"Myron Reed' Yes, that's the name,
but he is no reverend, is hes"
mo reverend Why, he is the great
est preacher west of Brooklyn"
And that was the first Mr. Murphy
knew that his comrade Of the summer was
in the least theological. They had never
talked religion, nor had the celebrated
preacher ever conducted himself in any
other manner than that of n gentlemanly
comrade.
1t is this good fellowship with all the
world that makes Mr.. Reed so much
loved by people quite outside of his church
and outside Of any church. Without in
the least seeking popularity he wins their
friendship
SieiiSal NiSlLS are not 10 MS taste. lie
makes but few. The ordinary doings of
society are somewhat OF bore to him:
hut he likes to drop into editorial sane
tunis, Offices and workshops and chat in
way. And everybody likes to
have him drop in.
There is another story about Reeds I'M
clerical appearance, also true. When new
In Indianapolis he was one Of group Of
gentlemen In o down town Office, when a
man Of coarse and foul speech and chronic.
ally dirty mind, entered. He was brimful
Of new and particularly unsavory yarn,
and at once, without noticing the tall,
grave, unpretentious looking stranger,
began to work 1t off on the group, expect
ing roars Of laughter as his reward. But.
as he proceeded the counte-
nances of his listeners grew serious
70 painfulness Their facial muscles con-
.racted Instead Of relaxing. and, hardened
men Of the world as they mostly were,
here and there one blushed The yarn |
was finished, and still nobody laughed. |
The teller looked about bewildered. This |
hing was not common. Somebody seized |
him by the arm, led him up 10 the grave
ooking stranger and said: "Mr. -, let
ne present you to Rev. Myrou Reed, the
lew pastor at the First Presbyterian
hurch.'
"Well, really" said the ahashed filth
PRODUCER, 'you must excuse rue, Mr..
Reed. had no idea that gentleman of
Tour cloth was present or most certainly